Asians love their cooking dramas...

[seichan]

Gourmet 1-2! or 식객 (somewhat translates to 'dinner guest' according to parental sources). This is similar to Osen as it showcases traditional food in a high class restaurant, but this show has less fluffy feelings...and it lacks the Johnnys. This show was supposed to air last year, but I heard the networks were fighting over it. Was it worth it? Not sure, but I did get a tiny flash of Yakitate Japan at one point.



The characters ~ Chef Oh - Previously a royal chef(?), now, owner of a high-class Korean restaurant, father of two adult boys; Sung Chan - the younger son who is a happy sort of a guy from which people don't expect much; Bong Joo - the older son who is somewhat stuffy, Min Woo - the jealous-type of chef ...and there's a couple uninteresting girls and a few more guys...



Quick summary ~ From the first 2 episodes, we learn that Chef Oh is looking for a successor. He likes translating old cook books and doing things the old fashioned way. Bong Joo doesn't. Sung Chan is eager to show his skill, and his talents are recognized in this episode with a promotion in the restaurant. Min Woo is jealous, and causes Sung Chan to lose his newly gifted knives which cause Sung Chan's father to think poorly of his son. Chef Oh announces a 'Iron Chef' match contest to find his successor which shocks his sons, since everyone expected Bong Joo to automatically be his successor. The two main chefs and Sung Chan vie to impress him. Sung Chan wins by making a form of soon-dae (korean sausage made out of innards or blood sausage). Min Woo makes flowery mun-doo (dumplings). Bong Joo makes a flowery bi-bim-bap (rice mixture). Chef Oh's reactions to their work are cute. Sung Chan later gets knocked down when he fails to impress an important dinner guest. Oh noes, he's going to disappoint his father again.

Quick impression ~ In it for the hot actors and delicious food. Kim Rae Won has a cute smile. The manwha summary gave me a different impression of the story, so I expect less restaurant melodrama as the story progresses; well, I hope there is less melodrama. Everything is well-produced; including the bgm and directing. The writing is a bit iffy. It could be more funny or meaningful. Again, I do hope there is less melodrama especially when it comes to the female characters. :P